December 2017
FROM THE RECTOR
On
Tues 31st October the Institute
of Technology Tallaght held their annual Business Prize Giving in our
Church during graduation week.
At
our morning service on Sunday 5th we were delighted to welcome the
parents of a student, Bento, from Nairobi had just graduated from the college,
Bento’s parents Frederick and Gladys were visiting Ireland for the occasion.
Bento had been sponsored by the staff and students of the college as a child so
it was the culmination of all those involved to see her graduate from the
college. Along with Bento’s parents we also welcomed Brian, a retired ITT
photographer (& the Echo) who is involved with the charity Harembee.
Harambee meaning ‘working together
for the common good‘, is an
entirely voluntary initiative of primary school teachers and volunteers in
Mukuru slum settlement in Nairobi, working in partnership with students and
staff at the ITT Founded
in 2006, Harambee provides scholarships to children
living in the Mukuru slum to attain a secondary education. Since then Harambee has supported up to one hundred pupils to progress to secondary school.
We welcomed the ITT college to our church again on 10th
November for their Remembrance Service
for the fifty students and staff of the college who have passed away over the
twenty-five years of the colleges existence.
Also on 10th November I attended the Remembrance
Service in Kiltipper Nursing Home for residents who have passed way in the last
year.
It was nice to have the Diocesan
Mother’s Union for their charity regulations information evening on 13th
November, a rearranged date due to the previous date having to be cancelled due
to storm Ophelia, the meeting unfortunately clashed with our own Mother’s Union
meeting on it’s regular 2nd Monday of the month.
On Saturday 17th
November I attended the Tallaght Person
of the Year awards in the main ballroom of the Red Cow Inn. It was a
delightful evening and it is heartening to see the community of Tallaght come
together in such a positive way. I sat with the family of Maurice McConnell who
sadly passed away earlier in the year. Maurice was a founding member of
Tallaght Person of the Year and was always present. He was a true community
person and was involved with his residents association, youth club and Talla
Fest, always willing to make himself available, he is sadly missed.
The lady who was the
overall winner this year, Sinead Tighe, is the mum of a disabled child and she gave an inspiring
speech. I’m sure she will bring the same zeal to promote Tallaght as she does
to promote awareness for the disabled. Our
own Janet Edgely and Mary Lucas were
both nominated in Arts and Culture
Category for nurturing crafting in others. Well done to all those who were
nominated and to the organising committee.
We continue to have tours of the Church and grounds for
school children led by local historian Tomas Maher. I enjoy their enthusiasm
and curiosity about not just about the structures of the parish but for also
for the beliefs of the Church of Ireland in general. Some of the questions I am
asked would challenge the best of theologians! We also had an ‘adult’ tour led
by Tomas organised by a lady who, having visited during Historic Week was
encouraged by her friends to organise a tour on 15th November as
they were sorry to have missed Tomas’ earlier visit.
Gift Day was held on
Sunday 17th November and so far, as we go to print, the figure
donated is € 6331. Thank you to all who have given, it really makes such a difference to the
Parish finances and therefore to the viability of our Parish Church here in
Tallaght.
May I take this opportunity to wish all the
readers of the Newsletter a very joyful
Christmas and a happy New Year, and repeating the Mothers’ Union Christmas
card verse, ‘please remember the magic of Christmas is not in presents but in
His presence’. God bless
William.
Christmas in St. Maelruain’s
Sun 17th December: Children’s Carol
Service at 11am and
Nine Lessons and Carols at 7pm
Sun 24th December: Holy Communion at
8.30am and Family Service at 11.00am
Sun 24th December: ‘Midnight’ Holy
Communion at 11.30pm
Mon 25th
December Christmas Morning Holy Communion with hymns at 8.30am -
Mon 25th December Christmas Morning Family Holy Communion at
11am
Sun 31st December New Year’s Eve Multi-cultural Service at 11.15pm.
FUNERAL On Saturday 11th November the
funeral service and burial of Mary Tynan O’Mahony took place here in St.
Maelruain’s. Our sincere condolences to her children Eoin, Julian and Sioban
and to her extended family and friends. Thank you to Fr. Eddie Griffin for
participation in the service.
ENVELOPES Church giving envelopes will be available in the Church
Porch during December. If anybody would like to join the envelope scheme,
keeping in mind the tax rebate available to the parish, please ask the Rector
or contact the Parish Office 462 6006.
THE CHURH OF IRELAND GAZETTE If you would like to
subscribe to the Church of Ireland all Ireland weekly newspaper please contact
the Parish office.
CHURCH REVIEW Subscription of €40 will be due in January on orders of the Diocesan
Church Review Magazine, please send payment to Parish Office. If you do not
wish to continue with you subscription or if you would like start receiving the
magazine, can you please let the Parish Office (462 6006) know before the end
of December.
MOTHER’S UNION / FAMILIES FIRST Our November meeting was on 12th November. The
speaker was Mary McLoughlin from the organisation called HOPE which is a
group which gives support and counseling to people who are feeling
anxious, depressed or suicidal and also gives support to family members
who have been bereaved by suicide. HOPE works as a weekly drop in centre
in Trustus House, Tallaght every Tuesday from 7-9.pm. Mary gave us a very interesting and moving
talk and shared her own story with us about how after her
family had been affected by suicide, she decided there was a great need for a
service like HOPE which stands for Hold On Pain Eases. We had a
good turn out and also a few visitors.
Our next meeting will be Monday 11th December and we'll be going to the
Leisureplex in Tallaght for ten pin bowling and a festive supper. This
night proved very popular last year so we hope as many as possible will join us
for what should be a fun night. Visitors are most welcome.
Saoirse are looking for black bags for December and we could
maybe bring a few festive treats too. If you would like to go bowling please
let Valerie know as we need to book. Our Christmas dinner will be on Monday 15 Jan
2018, venue to be decided. If anyone is interested in going give me a
ring and I'll also be taking names on the night of the bowling when we'll
decide the venue. Valerie
TABLE TENNIS We will close for Christmas on December 14th.
Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New Year.
FLOWERS GUILD We
look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday December 16th from 9am –
12pm or so, when we will decorate the Church for Christmas and the Carol
Service the next day. We would welcome donations of flowers and greenery.
Perhaps you would like to remember a loved one at Christmas with flowers in the
Church? Everybody in welcome, there a job for all and a cup of tea and chat to
keep us going as we work. Thank you so much to all in advance, to all the
ladies in the Flower Guild that provide flowers on a monthly basis throughout
the year. We are always looking for new people, male or female. Happy Christmas
to you all.
Regina
BOYS BRIGADE We had our joint Enrolment Service
with the Girl’s Brigade on Sunday 26th November followed by
some tea and coffee which went very well.
The lads will
be having a movie night the night of the parish Christmas Sing-along and our
end of session Christmas Party will be happening on Friday 8th December
with the Juniors and Company section enjoying some bowling and Quasar in
Tallaght Leisurplex and our Anchor Boy’s will get a visit from a very special
red suited guest.
If anyone has a boy that may be
interested in joining Boy’s Brigade please
come on down we would love to have them.
Friday evenings: Anchors 7pm – 8:00pm Juniors 7pm - 8:30pm Company 7pm - 9pm. Evan
BOWLING CLUB Our Christmas dinner will be held in Lucan Golf Club on Saturday 9th
December. Heather. We received a grant of €4,000.00 euro from Dublin South County Council
towards the purchase of 2 new mats and sanding and marking of the floor.
On behalf of Tallaght Parish Indoor Bowling Club we thank Dublin South County
Council for this generous grant. We are looking
forward to our Christmas Dinner in Lucan Golf Club on Saturday 9th
December. We wish all members and parishioners a very Happy Christmas.
WHIST DRIVE The
Christmas Whist ‘Turkey’ Drive is on Monday 18th at 8.00pm in the
Main Hall. All Welcome!
CRAFTY CHATTERS
Crafty Chatters will be meeting just once in December on
Tuesday 5th in St.
Maelruain's Parish Hall from 2 - 4pm. You are very welcome to come and
join us to do a craft or just to come and chat and see what is going on. Craft
Chatters will return in the New Year on the 2nd Jan. Wishing you all a
very Happy, Peaceful Christmas and a Healthy 2018! Janet
PARISH COFFEE We would like to say a big thank you
to our secret admirer/s for the beautiful flowers we received. We truly
enjoy running the coffee mornings and are very grateful for all the support we
receive. We hope that 2018 will see even more people dropping in to share
in a cuppa with us. We meet again on Friday 26th January as usual at
10.30am - 12.30pm. We hope everybody has a happy Christmas and healthy New Year
- Regina, Vivienne & Barbara
